Tim Hudson was starting Wednesday night for the San Francisco Giants, which means he’s not in line to pitch this weekend against the Braves when the Giants come to town.
The way the dates fall, Hudson won’t be in line to pitch when the Braves go out to San Francisco to play the Giants on May 12-14 either.
This weekend it’ll be Tim Lincecum, Ryan Vogelsong and Madison Bumgarner for the Giants, which might be good news for the Braves. Hudson is off to a 3-1 start, with a 2.19 ERA.
Freddie Freeman, being the competitor he is, was disappointed not to get a chance to face his friend and former teammate.
“Especially on a weekend series, it would have been packed,” said Freeman, who then asked and was told they wouldn’t see him in San Francisco either. “That’s too bad. There’s always next year. He signed a two-year deal, right? It’d be fun to face him, obviously, but that’s not how the cards lie.”
The Braves had interest in bringing the free agent Hudson back for this season but couldn’t compete with the Giants’ offer of two years, $23 million. Hudson still makes his home in Auburn, Ala. and has a host of close friends on the Braves roster after nine years with the team.
“It’s always weird and awkward when you face a guy you played with for four years and all of a sudden he’s on a different team,” Freeman said. “Especially a guy of that magnitude for the Braves. He was here for nine years. I think it’s less stress for him and his family (for him not to pitch). I’m sure (wife) Kim (Hudson) wouldn’t be too thrilled with that.”
Freeman smiled.
“Get him next year,” he said.
